Connector



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H. R. MILLS CONNECTOR Filed Dec.'

oct. 7, 1941.

Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CONNECTOR j Hugo R. Mills, Hibbing, Minn. 4Application December 9, 1940, serial No. 369,340

2 Claims.

My invention relates to devices usually referred to as connectors or adapters and which are utilized for ycoupling electric cables or the like to electric outlet or junction boxesor the like.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character so constructed and arranged whereby an electric cable or the like may be rreadily connected to a junction or outlet box or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character equipped with means wherebyv the connector is expansible and contractible over a wide range of adjustments than prior devices and in a manner to efficiently clamp and hold relatively yieldable loom and other cable covers of a wide variety of dimensions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character equipped with means which while clamping the cable to the junction boX, effect substantial centralization of the cable within the bore of the connector.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, eilicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

\ Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a junction box, partly in section, and illustrating my invention in association therewith for connecting the end of an electric cable to said box.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a disassembled perspective view of my invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of clamping member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional View of another modified form of Iclamping member.

As disclosed in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawing, my novel connector or adapter 4 comprises a body 5 formed with a longitudinal `bore 6 and having an external threaded cylindrical portion 1 constructed of a size for ready insertion through a knockout aperture 8 in an outlet or i.

junction box 9. The body is yprovided withv a collar I0 von one end and which limits the movement of the connector when inserted into the box 9 through the aperture 8. The connector is secured to the box by means of a nut I I threaded onto the portion 'I and coacting with the collar I0 to clamp the body to the prejacent wall of the box as illustrated in Figure l. Howeverpit is to be understood that any other suitable meansmay be employed for securing the connector to the box. It is also to be understood that the collar I0 may be constructed structurally integrally with `the portion 'I or be secured thereto in any convenient manner, for instance, by means of threads.

The collar IE] is provided with a pair of spaced oppositely disposed and right angularly related ears` I2 and I3 respectively and with each of said ears formed with a slot I4. A pair of larcuate members or jaws I5 and I6 respectively arev arranged transversely of the outer side face of the vcollar I0 and are fashioned with oppositely extending anges II overlying the adjacent face of the collar and closing the bore 6 of thebody 5 between the face of the bore and the adjacent outer faces I8 of the jaws I5 and lli.` The jaws I5 and I6 are fashioned with opposed endshaving incurvated sections I9 and 2D respectively extending through the slot I4 of the ear I2 and said sections coact with the ear t0 demountably hinge the jaws thereto.

The opposite ends of the jaws I5 and I6 are fashioned with arms 2| and 22 respectively and with said arms embracing the ear I3. The arm 22 has secured to its outer face, by means of a rivet 23, a substantially Aright angul'arly disposed end portion 2/I of an arcuate tongue 25, the latter being resilient and formed on one face with teeth 26. The arm 22 is formed with a slot 2l through which the tongue is disposed, said tongue extending through the slot I4 of theear I3. The arm 2I of the jaw I5 is formed with an opening 28 receiving therethrough the tongue, the latter having its opposite end terminating in an angularly disposed portion 29 to preclude accidental disengagement of the tongue with the arm 2I through the opening 28. One of the walls defining the opening 28 is fashioned with a detent 30 for ratchet engagement with the teeth 26 of the tongue when the arms I5 and I6 are drawn together as hereinafter described.

In use, a cable 3l is disposed through the bore 6 of the body 'I and the sections I9 and 20 of the jaws I5 and I6 are hinged to the ear I2 and with the tongue extending through the ear I3 and opening 28 of the arm 2l. When the parts are thus positioned, the jaws l5 and I6 are disposed about the cable and the arms 2| and 22 are drawn together by means of a suitable tool, for instance, a pair of pliers, to eiect clamping engagement of the jaws l5 and I6 about and with the cable 3|. When the jaws are thus clamped about the cable, the detent 30 engages one of the teeth 26 of the tongue 25 and maintains the jaws in clamped condition to the cable thereby securing the cable .to the junction box.

In the modification disclosed in Figure 5, the tongue 40, adjacent the rivet 4| is fashioned with an arcuate portion 42 dening a groove 43 in which is clamped the end of a ground wire 44 to the arm 45 thereby establishing an electrical connection between the ground and the adapter.

In the modification disclosed in Figure 6, the arm 50 is provided with an end section 5| folded thereunder and constituting one end of the tongue 52 thereby enabling the tongue and arm to be constructed from a single piece of material.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in various forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An adapter for connecting a cable to a junction box and comprising a body having a cable receiving bore and adapted to be secured through an aperture in a junction box or the like, said body provided with a collar adapted to engage a face of the box and formed with a pair of spaced oppositely disposed and right angularly related slotted ears, a pair of arcuate members transversing said collar and fashioned with iianges overlying the adjacent face of said collar and closing those portions of the bore between the inner face of said bore and the adjacent faces of said members, said members having opposed ends provided with incurvated sections extending through the slot of one of said ears and coacting with the latter to demountably hinge said member thereto, the opposite opposed ends of said members fashioned with arms embracing the other ear and with one of said arms provided with an arcuate tongue formed on one face with teeth and with said tongue extending away from said last mentioned arm and through the slot of said last mentioned ear, said other arm formed with an opening receiving said tongue therethrough and with one of the walls deiining said opening being structurally integrally fashioned with a detent disposed angularly out of said opening and engaging one of said teeth and said tongue to maintain the latter in fixed relation against an opposite Wall defining said opening and thus maintain said members clamped about a cable extending through said bore to secure said cable in connected relation with said collar, said tongue provided with means coacting with one of said arms for clamping a ground wire thereto when said tongue is maintained in said iixed relation by said detent.

2. A cable end fitting, comprising a body fashioned with a bore for receiving therethrough a cable, a pair of ears extending from said body and each formed with a slot, a pair of jaws each having an end disposed in the slot of one of said ears and demountably hinged to said last mentioned ear, the opposite end of one of said jaws formed with a tongue provided with teeth and extending through the slot of the other ear, the opposite end of the other jaw formed with an opening receiving said tongue and with one of the walls deiining said opening being structurally integrally fashioned with a detent disposed angularly out of said opening and engaging one of the teeth and said tongue to maintain the latter in fixed relation against an opposite wall defining said opening and thus maintain said jaws clamped about a cable extending between said jaws and through said bore, said tongue provided with means coacting with one of said jaws for clamping a ground wire thereto when said tongue is maintained in said xed relation by said detent.

HUGO R. MILLS. 

